Jordan Spieth’s quest to etch his name in golf history by completing the career Grand Slam got off to a roller-coaster start Thursday at the PGA Championship. The three-time major winner, playing at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, carded a 1-under 69 in his opening round—a score that left him within striking distance but with plenty of room for improvement.
Spieth, now in his 10th attempt to capture the only major missing from his collection, showed flashes of brilliance early. After making the turn at 1-under, he caught fire on the front nine (his back nine), birdieing three of the first six holes to climb into a tie with the early leaders at 3-under. But momentum stalled with back-to-back bogeys at the 7th and 8th holes, derailing what could have been a statement round.
“I struck the ball well,” Spieth said. “I was in a good position on a lot of holes. If I drive it like that, I’d expect to shoot what I did or better. Just didn’t quite finish the way I wanted to the last three holes, but under-par was a good score.”
The morning conditions at Aronimink added another layer of difficulty. A chilly breeze and damp air made the course play tough early on, but as the temperatures rose, so did Spieth’s game. He rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-4 16th, then drained a 10-footer at the first hole after the turn. A pair of short putts—just over 3 feet and under 7 feet—at the 4th and 5th holes kept his momentum alive before the late stumble.
“It’s one of those rounds where I feel like I played better than I scored, which is frustrating because you want to get the most out of your round,” Spieth added. “It’s also a good thing, which means things are in a good spot.”
The 2017 Open Championship remains Spieth’s most recent major victory. His only top-10 finish in the PGA Championship came in 2019 at Bethpage Black, making this week a crucial opportunity to add another chapter to his legacy. With three rounds remaining, the 1-under 69 keeps him in the mix, but he’ll need to clean up the back nine to keep pace with early leader Scottie Scheffler, who shares the lead at 3-under 67.
For Spieth, it’s a familiar chase—one that tests patience, resilience, and the kind of short-game magic that made him a household name. As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on whether he can turn this uneven start into a historic finish.